Sara George

Sara George is Sidley Austin’s lead Crisis Management and Strategic Response lawyer in Europe. She is a former prosecutor for the Financial Services Authority (FSA) and brought the first criminal prosecution by the FSA against a director for misleading the market (Regina v. Rigby and Bailey), the first Listing Rule contravention, numerous market abuse cases, and refusals of authorization.

Sara has extensive experience representing corporations in crisis situations and in matters involving allegations of criminal misconduct, including market abuse, insider dealing, money laundering, cybersecurity breaches, fraud, corruption and bribery.

In the 2023 edition of Chambers UK, sources say she is “talented, knowledgeable and forward-thinking,” with “fantastic depth of experience, knowledge and analysis of the law” (Chambers UK 2022). Clients in the 2021 edition say “she is very forward-thinking and proactive in her approach.” Sources to Chambers UK 2019 describe Sara as “fearless,” and “a strong lawyer and a strong advocate.”

In the 2023 edition of The Legal 500 UK, Sara is recognized as a “Leading Individual” for Fraud: White-Collar Crime (Advice to Individuals), and also recognized for Financial Services: Contentious Regulatory, and Regulatory Investigations and Corporate Crime (Advice to Corporates). One client told the publication “Sara is truly the best lawyer I have every worked with. Her knowledge, network, forward thinking, commitment is truly exceptional.” Clients in the 2022 edition described Sara as “an excellent attorney with a great ability to foresee case developments and act accordingly,” with “real criminal law skills but applied to complex white-collar work.” She is “the epitome of calm and has a steely nerve.”

Sara has been recognized in Best Lawyers 2022 for Financial Services. She was also shortlisted as a finalist for “Innovative Leader — Private Practice” at the Women, Influence & Power in Law Awards 2023.